Mechanical massaging device



P. C. DUBE.

MECHANICAL MASSAGING DEVICE.

APPLICATION men JAN-l9, I920.

1,364,623. Patented Jan. 4,1921.

mvavmn P 017a be A TTORNEVS UNITEP STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER C. DUBE, 0E ESCANAEA, MICHIGAN.

MECHANICAL MASSAGING- DEVICE.

Application filed January 19, 1920. Serial No. 352,258. I

State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanical Massagin Devices, of which the following is a fu I clear, and'exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanical massaging devices, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and

arrangements herein described and claimed. An, object of my invention is to provide a device formassaging by mechanical means a number of the muscles of the body at the same time.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that will massage the muscles of the body in a more uniformly effective manner than is possible when the massaging is done manually A further object of my invention is to provide muscle massaging means in a device of the type described that may be adjusted to massage muscles of varying sizes.

Other objects and advantages willappear.

in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

y invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming art of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a side'view of the device,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown diagrammatically,

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of a portion of the device,

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of a portion of the device.

In carrying out my invention I provide a supporting frame having end ortions 1 and 2 connected and held rigidly in position by rods 3. A plurality of suspension hangers 4 have their upper ends slidably secured to a supporting bar 5,which has its ends secured in the end portions 1 and 2 near the middle of their upper edges. Supports 6 adapted to receive the body of a man are carried by and secured to the lower ends of the ing shown in the accompanying drawingsare positioned in parallel alinement and are ournaled to rotate upon ball bearings (not shown) in the end portions 1 and 2 near the upper edges of the latter. Gears 10 are keyed to ends of the driven shafts 9 which extend through the end portion 2. The gears 10 are actuated by the gears 11, which aremounted to rotate upon stub shafts '12, either directly or through the'medium of intermediate gears 13, which are mounted to rotateupon stub shafts 14, so that all gears 10 are rotated simultaneously, alternate gears 10 turning in the same direction. The stub shafts 11 and 14 are securedto the end portion 2 in the positions indicated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

The gears 11 mesh with and are driven by the gear 15 which is mounted to rotate upon a stub shaft 16. Thelatter is secured to the end portion 2. A crank arm 17 has one end pivotally connected eccentrically to the gear 15 and has its other end pivotally fastened are joined to the ends of the chains 19.v .Ad-

justable muscle engaging straps 21 are secured to the lower portion of the straps 20 substantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings. The straps 20 may be adjusted in length to insure rigidity when the muscle engaging straps 21 are adjusted to engage different muscles of a mans body 22 shown resting upon the supports 6 in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof maybe readily understood. The drive pulley 8 is rotated by any suitable power means. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the power actuating the drive'pulley is transmitted through the belt 23 from a motor 24. The drive pulley 8 imparts an oscillatory movement to the sprocket wheels 18 by means of the crank arm'17, the gear 15,

the gears 11, the gears 13, the gears 10, and the driven shafts 9 which are arranged as described. Alternately positioned shafts will be moved in the same direction.

The oscillatory movement of the sprocket wheels 18 imparts a vertical reciprocating movement to the chains 19 and the straps 20. Consequently, when the different muscles of the body are engaged by the muscle engaging straps 21 which are fastened to the straps 20, the vertical reciprocating movement of the latter massages the muscles thoroughly and uniformly.

The reciprocating movement of the straps 20 may be lengthened or shortened by adjusting the connections of the crank arm 17 with the drive pulley 8 and the gear 15 in the manner described. Consequently, the

muscles will be massaged more forcibly as the reciprocating movement of the strap 20 is lengthened. It will therefore be obvious that my device is suitable'for use inmassaging muscles of both mature and immature persons in varying physical conditions.

.It is suitable for the athlete who has well developed muscles and also for the invalid. It is believed that my device will be of incalculable benefit to persons suffering from diseases benefited by treatment of the muscles since it affords a means for readily massaging the muscles uniformly in a manner portions, body supportin means adjustable vertically and slidable lon itudinally on said supporting frame, a plurality of straps suspended from said supporting frame, each of said straps being formed into a loop, a second strap secured to the lower portion of 2. A device of the type described consisting of parallel end portions connected by a plurality of rods, a supporting rod having its ends secured to the end portions, suspe sion straps having their upper ends slid ably secured to said supporting rod, body rests fastened to the lower ends of said sus pension straps shafts disposed between and having their end rotatablymounted in said end portions, a plurality of sprockets keyed to said shafts, a chain arranged to engage each of said sprockets intermediate its length, a strap having its ends secured to the ends of each of said chains, a muscle engaging strap secured to said second named strap at substantially the middle point thereof, said last named muscle engaging strap being adapted to be fastened around portions of the body, and mechanical means for operating said shafts, whereby the muscles engaged by the muscle engaging straps are effectually massaged.

PETER C. DUBE. 

